The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-05-20
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
FRANK MULLER SHOWS HIS HAND.
Presently Muller turned round. "Do yor
know why have told you this, ON Silas!'
lie asked.
no"
Because want you to understand tina,
you and all the Englishmen in this country
are in very dangerous position. The wal
is coming, and whether it goes for you
or against you, you must suffer. You
Englishmcn have many enemies You have
got all the trade and own nearly half the
land, and you are always standing up for the
black people, whom the Beers hate. It will
60 hard with you il there is a war. You will
he shot and your houses will be burned, and
il you lose the day, those who escape will be
driven out Of the country. It will be the
Transvaal for the Transvaalers then. and
Africa for the Africandcrs."
"Well, Frank Muller, and il all this should
come to pass, what Of it, What are YOU
driving at, Frank Mullerl You don't show
me your hand like this for nothing"
The Boer laughed. "Of course don't ON
Silas. Well, II you want to know, will tell
you what mean. mean that alone can
protect you and your place and people in the
bad times that are coming. have more in
fiuence in the land than you know of. Per-
haps, even, could stave Off the war, and il
it suited me to do so would do it, At the
least could keep you from being harmed,
that know. But have my price, ON Silas.
us we all have, and it must be money down
and no credit"
II don't understand you and your dark saw
ings," said the old man, coldly. ~ an a
straightforward man, and il YOU will tell me
what you mean will give you my answer; if
not. don't see the good of our going on talk.
ing"
"Very well; will tell you what mean.
mean Bessie. mean that love your niece
and want to marry her-ay, l mean to marry
her by fair means or foul-and that she will
have nothing to say to me-"
"And what have to do with that, Frank
Muller? The girl is her own mistress. can
not dispose OF her in marriage, even if |
wanted to, as though she were colt or an OK.
You must plead your own suit and take your
own answer"
II have pleaded my suit and have got my
answer" answered the Boer, with passion.
"Don't you understand she will have nothing
to say to me. She is in love with the id
rooibaatje Mel. whom you have brought up
here. She is i'll love with him, say, and will
not look at me-"
"Ah," replied Silas Croft, calmly, sis that
500 Then she shows very good taste for
John Mel is an honest man, Frank Muller,
and you are not. Listen to me-" he went on,
with sudden outburst of passion; II teli
you that you are dishonorable man and
villain. tell you that you murdered the
Hottentot Jantje's father, mother and uncle
in cold blood when you were yet lad.
tell you that the other day you tried to MUIR
der John Mel, pretending to mistake him for
q buck And now you, who petitioned for
this country to be taken over by the queen,
and have gone round singing out your loyal
ty at the top of your voice. come and tell me
that you are plotting to bring about an insur-
rection and to plunge the land into war, and
ask me for Bessie as the price Nof your pro-
tection And now will tell you something
in answer, Frank Muller" and the old man
rose up, his keen eyes flashing in wrath, and
Strengthening his bent frameSpointed toward
The door. go out of that door and never
come through it again. l rely upon God and
the English nation to protect me, and not on
such as you, and would rather see my dear
Bessie dead in her coffin than married to
lnave and traitor and murderer like
Frank Muller. Col"
The Boer turned white with fury as be
listened. Twice lie tried to speak and failed,
anil when the words did come they were so
choked and laden with passion as to be
scarcely audible. When thwarted he was
liable TO these accesses Of rage, and they,
figuratlveiy speaking, spoiled his character
Could he hass kept his head, he would have
been perfect aud triumphant villain; but as
it was, the carefully planned and audacious
rascality OF years Was always apt to be swept
away by the sudden gale Of his furious passion.
1t was in such an outbarst of rage that he
had assaulted John in the inn ward at WAX
kerstroom, and thereby put him on his guard
against him and now it mastered him once
more. r.
"Very well, Silas Croft" he said at last. ~
will go; but mark this, will come back, and
when come it shall be with men armed with
rifles. l will burn this pretty place of yours
that you are so proud of, over your head. and
1 will kill you and your friend the English
man, and take Bessie away, and very soon
she will be glad enough to marry Frank
Muller; but then will not marry her-no
not if she goes on her knees to me-and she
SuGll 10 vi lltl hiIOSo oAUCi CAOu6h' " VIA
then see what God and the English nation will
do to protect you. God and the English ma
ton! Call on the sheep and the horses; call
on the rocks and the trees, and you will get a
better answer"
"Go!" thundered the old man, "or by the
God you blaspheme l will put bullet
through you," and be reached toward a rifle
that hung over the mantelpiece. cor my KAT
frs shall whip you off the place"
Frank Muller waited for no more. He
turned and went 1t was dark now, but
there was still some light in the sky at the end
Of the blue gum avenue, and as he rode away
against it he made out Bessie's tall and grace
full form softly outlined upon the darkenng
night. John had left her to see about some
matter connected with the 1arm'
and there she stood, filled with the great Joy
Of q woman who has found her love, ana
Ioath as yet to break its spell by encerihg
again into the daily round of common hle.
There she stood, a type and symooi OF al
that is beautiful and gracious in tins rough
world. the lovclisht shining in her blue eyes
md thoughts of happy gratitude to the diveF
II all good rising from her heart to heaven
irawn up thither, as it were, by the warmth
If her pure passion, as the dew misps Oh 'ne
are drawn upward by the sun.
To be Continued.
|